David J. Valesky's posts related to Highways

“While I agree with the call for fiscal discipline and strongly oppose any new taxes as we enter the 2009-2010 budget season, I am disappointed that the DOT’s 5-Year Capital Plan was so quickly dismissed in its entirety without consideration of alternatives.

SYRACUSE, N.Y.—A bipartisan coalition of state, local and community leaders in Syracuse announced a comprehensive effort aimed at curbing the ongoing and serious problem of litter on city highways today.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Central New York's state lawmakers want any solution for Interstate 81 to travel along the same general path the aging highway occupies now, according to a letter sent in December to the state's top transportation official.

ALBANY, NY—State Senator David J. Valesky (D-Oneida) today lauded the passage of the state’s fourth and historic consecutive on-time budget. This has not been accomplished with the same Governor and legislative leaders in more than 40 years.

Sen. David Valesky of Oneida is joining the push for a “Syracuse Billion.”

The Independent Democratic Conference member on Monday said in a statement he backed the plan as proposed by Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner to have the state commit to a massive infrastructure investment in the central New York city.

By Tim Knauss on December 09, 2014 at 12:36 PM, updated December 09, 2014 at 12:40 PM

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Anticipating a "feeding frenzy'' over New York state's $5 billion windfall, a dozen public officials, union leaders and contractors gathered this morning at Syracuse City Hall to advocate spending all of the money to repair roads, bridges, water pipes and other infrastructure.

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, state Senators John DeFrancisco and David Valesky, Assemblyman Al Stirpe and others said the state should use the money from a one-time settlement with banks to make long overdue infrastructure repairs.

The Constitution Pipeline, which will transport shale gas from Pennsylvania to New York, has received conditional approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. But some groups are looking for legal actions to halt the process. Anne Marie Garti, a founder of “Stop the Pipeline” and a volunteer lawyer representing “Stop the Pipeline” through the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic, and Robert Nied, of the Center for Sustainable Rural Communities, say Constitution Pipeline lawyers’ threaten and intimidate landowners who refuse to sign easement agreements. They are calling on the Attorney General to intervene.

ALBANY, N.Y.—The State Senate unanimously passed legislation (S.640) sponsored by Senator David J. Valesky (D-Oneida) that will increase the penalties in the “move over” law, which requires drivers approaching emergency vehicles to move one lane away. Currently, the law does not provide for increased penalties for killing or seriously injuring someone as a result of violating the law.

“The ‘move over’ law has increased safety for police and first responders, but violators may only be charged with a misdemeanor, even if their actions cause serious injury or death,” Senator Valesky said. “This legislation changes the penalty to a felony for individuals who disregard the law and operate a vehicle recklessly.”